Denied a Mummy

A Maggie Hartley Foster Carer Story

by Maggie Hartley

When Maggie's latest placement arrives on her doorstep, it is clear that Sean, Dougie and their big sister Mary have been through unspeakable traumas in their short lives. Violent and malnourished, the siblings have been left to fend for themselves by their drug-addicted parents. Maggie must use all of her skills and experience as a foster carer to help these damaged siblings to learn to be children again. With much love, care and patience, their behaviour gradually starts to improve and social services start looking for a forever family for them. But alarm bells start to ring when Maggie meets the couple who have been matched to adopt the siblings. It is clear that they're looking for the perfect, ready-made family, and they're not going to get it with these vulnerable brothers and sister. Despite raising her concerns with social services, Maggie is powerless to prevent the adoption from going ahead and she must put aside her own fears to help the siblings settle in with their new parents. But she can't shake the feeling of dread as she waves them goodbye.A few months later, Maggie's worst nightmares come true when she learns that the children have been handed back to the care of social services following the breakdown of the adoption. Maggie must fight to get the children returned to her, but is it too late to undo the damage that has been done?A true story of hope from Sunday Times bestselling author Maggie Hartley, a foster carer for over 20 years.'This was a book I could not put down' 5* Amazon reader review

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Fostering, Abuse, Biography

248 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2018

Reviews

[Fiona MacDonald]

Another heart-breaking story from foster carer Maggie Hartley. One day she receives 3 new children to her doorstep: Sean, Dougie and Mary. They are unlike any children she has ever coped with before. Violent, aggressive (both vocally and physically), unable to use the toilet and terrified that they will not be given food (which leads to them climbing on the table and grabbing handfuls from anyone who is eating). They act more like feral animals than children, but when Maggie hears what sort of environment they were in before, she begins to understand more about their broken personalities. Just as things start to be improving for the children, they are given the opportunity to begin a new life with a seemingly keen couple who are desperate to take all 3 of them home. But Maggie can't help but think something is not quite right about the situation..
Maggie's books are addictive - I usually read them in a couple of hours because I'm so engrossed in the various accounts she shares.

[Samu]

Same familiar pattern, fast read, still works. I should probably stop reading this genre, but I just can't stop myself, send help.

[Ian Mcnamara]

What another great book by this author. This was a very touching and gripping book and I could not put it down from the moment I started reading it. What these children went threw was terrible and the support Maggie gave them and her dedication was amazing. This was a book that had happy and sad moments and some very heart breaking scenes as well. The fact that Maggie was determined to make sure these children got the love and care they deserved was clear. Won't go into any more detail in this review as don't want to give away any spoilers. Looking forward to the next book by this author whenever that will be. I read the Audio copies of all the books available by this author so far and Ponelapie McDonald who reads them is fantastic.

[Jeanine]

Great book.. I was a sloppy mess at the end.

[Monica Willyard Moen]

After reading this book, I was tempted to write that there has got to be a special place in hell for parents like the ones of these children. Then I remember that Jesus is willing to forgive anyone of anything, and I have no knowledge of the relationship that is present among these parents and Jesus. So while I cried furious, painful tears while reading about the early beginnings of these children, I have to remember that I need to pray for them and their parents, and that is more productive than getting so angry. Reading about their healing and their better lives helped me get my perspective back, and I am so glad I read their story. God bless foster parents!

[Erica⭐]

I was very moved again . Once again my heart goes out to these children. Most importantly the social services should listen to the person who is fostering siblings who have them 24/7. I was so happy at the end of the story.

[kay]

Lovely heart wrenching story, lovely narrative as always with these books

[Brittney Smidt]

so heartwarming

Ooofffff 😮‍💨😮‍💨 this book had me SOBBING, my gut instincts were exactly like Maggie’s and reading until the end was so beautiful!

[Pamela Carmin]

Great read!

I really enjoyed this book very much! I've read her work before and love it! Great job Maggie! Thank you!

[Donna Burtenshaw]

Yet another excellent book by Maggie. It brings so many emotions this book and make you have so many strong feelings for these poor children and how they had been raised and treated. My hat off to the Forster Carers!

Thank you for the wonderful book.

[Mrs Anne M McLellan]

Fantastic read. I love Maggie books

Amazing author cannot put books down once started. As soon as you start the books you are instantly into the story as if you were there

[Gayle]

Another fantastic read by Maggie .

[Kelly Ferrett]

Denied A Mummy by Maggie Hartley is a gut wrenching read ....
What these children endeared before coming to Maggie should not have happened to anyone!
The encouragement, love and care from Maggie and Louisa helped these children see that with the right people you can live a happy life.
Every child wants a forever home with a mummy and daddy to love and care for them .... Unfortunately .... Not everyone couple can be the right fit!
A book that will tear at the heartstrings ... You will cry ... You will smile .... Ad cry some more!

[mois reads]

Mary ,Sean ,dougie .

Reading Maggie's books is a step into the unknown the patience and love she has for these damaged children is wonderful to read it takes a special person to do this and reading about these three damaged little souls is heartbreaking but the outcome is wonderful .5STARS .

[Mel]

Brilliant book but sad. I look forward to all of Maggie's books.

[Charlotte]

I was hooked to this book, I managed to read it all in a day!

It is absolutely heartbreaking to read how horrible the three siblings life had been before meeting Maggie. However she is such a wonderful lady who puts all her effort into the children she fosters - she is a wonder-woman!

Broke my heart reading that the adoption fell through, but I definitely sensed it when reading about Gillian and the way she was with the children.

The ending actually had my crying happy tears, and I am so thrilled they got their perfect forever family!

[Melanie Young]

What a story! My respect for foster carers has grown immensely after reading this book as there were many times I would think ‘how could you deal with that?!’ As I read the descriptions of the children’s behaviour. Maggie is a truly gifted foster carer and being able to share in her stories, especially this one has left an imprint on my heart. Adoption breakdowns are inconceivable to those who sit outside the realm of social services and foster care. This story has a wonderful happy ending. A quick read with lots to get you thinking.

[Bonni Fitzpatrick]

This true story was heartbreaking with a great ending, I read this with my dad in one sitting and immediately bought another from this author, I believe that these types of books should be more popular as they show the reality of foster care and social work as a whole and gives insight into the delicate feelings and views of children which can help parents of all children with the wisdom that Maggie brings in this book.

Overall this a great book that many should read.

[Julie Haigh]

Another engrossing read from Maggie Hartley.

This book tells the story of three siblings who have been terribly neglected and go to stay with foster carer, Maggie for a while. She certainly had her work cut out with this case. The children weren't even toilet trained-they had been let to run wild and just do their business wherever around the house they happened to be. There are many ups and downs to keep you reading and I finished it in just a couple of days. An easy to read style of writing; conversational style. I love whizzing through these fostering memoirs, and Maggie Hartley is one of my favourite authors in this genre.

[Gail]

Unbelievable

It is hard to realize that there are are people who can neglect their children as these three have been. Maggie is to be admired for her patience to handle the problems of these damaged children not once but twice. She is a fantastic writer and I feel the emotions as she described them. I recommend her books as easy but emotional reads.

[Coley]

Heart wrenching book with a brilliant ending, my heart went out to these children all the way through! I felt an enormous sense of gratitude to Maggie who worked tirelessly with these kids, it did pay off in the end though, but shown full devotion as an amazing foster carer! Thankyou for a lovely book!

[Amanda Davies]

Maggie honestly deserves a medal as nobody else could cope with feral kids like that althougj it wasnt their fault as they didnt know any different.

Social Services should have picked up on Gillian and Adam though as Maggie could see they were too set in their ways and so should they have.

Lovely ending though thanks to Carol and Dave

[enza]

Wow

I really enjoyed this book i couldn't put it down i read it in one the most heart breaking story i be ever read in so glad double sean and mar y got there happy ending well done Maggie Hartley

[Charlie Jade]

Just like all her other books Maggie Hartley takes you through an emotional rollercoaster with her, and the children in her care. She has an amazing ability to really connect you to the little lives in her house and their story.

[Sally Gooding]

Fab book, how Maggie dealt with3 young children in her care was hard work but also rewarding.. the struggles the children had was hard and difficult.. magpies love and understanding and patience with them was so rewarding... definitely worth reading

[Mary Holskey]

Wonderful book.

I love your books... they are tragic stories but the y are also stories of struggle, strength and the overcoming of the human spirit. Thank you for sharing your life experiences.

[Nicola Poitras]

Excellent. Heartbreaking and triumphant.

This book is wonderfully written. These three children are so heart breakingly broken. The neglect was tear her for the children's pain.
The ending had me crying with joy.
Very well written. A wonderful addition to any library.

[Fiona]

Great book as always but would love to know the year they are set in. Just thinking of resources that would have been around like smart phones, Internet, online shopping that Maggie could do if she was stuck at home for 1st week with vulnerable children.

[Shannon Dyer]

A quick and engrossing read.

[Ali Mayes]

Brilliant as all Maggie books are